Achlorhydria
absence of hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach
Acholia
absence of bile
Adhesions
fibrous tissue formation causes abnormal joining of two organ surfaces
Anal fissure
painful crack in the mucous membrane of the anus
Anorexia
loss of appetite
Anorexia nervosa
loss of appetite due to emotional states
Appendicitis
inflammation of the appendix of the intestine
Ascites
free fluid in the peritoneal cavity
Barrett's oesophagus
disease of the gullet where, in response to the reflux of stomach's contents, similar tissue to that which lines the stomach has grown to line the gullet (mataplasia)
Cholecystitis
inflammation of the gallbladder
Choledocholithiasis
condition of stones in the bile duct
Cholelithiasis
condition of stones in the gallbladder
Cirrhosis
hardening of an organ, usually the liver
Coeliac disease
disease in which the protien gluten is not properly broken down (fatty stools and failiure to gain weight when occours in early childhood)
Colic
spasmodic waves of pain due to contraction of muscles in tubular organs
Colitis
imflammation of the colon
Crohn's disease
chronic inflammation of the last part of the ileum (small intestine)
Diverticulitis
inflammation of a pouch formation in the lining of the intestine
Diverticulum
an abnormal pouch formation in the lining of a hollow organ e.g. intestine
Faecal vomiting
present when all bowel movements have ceased - obstruction, paralytic ileus - vomit consists of liquid faeces
Fistula
abnormal communication between two organs or an organ with the skin
Gastritis
inflammation of the stomach
Gastroenteritis
inflammation of the stomach and intestine
Gingivitis
imflammation of the gums
Haematemesis
vomiting of blood from the stomach
Haemorrhoidectomy
surgical removal of haemorrhiods
Haemorrhoids
varicose veins of the rectum
Helicobacter pylori
bacteria which live and reproduce in the gastric secretions of the stomach and may cause gastric ulcers
Helminthiasis
infestation with intestinal worms
Hepatitis
inflammation of the liver
Hepatoma
malignant tumor of the liver
Hepatomegaly
enlargement of the liver
Hernia
abnormal potrusion of an organ through a weakness in a muscle
Hiatus hernia
protrusion of the stomach wall through a weakness in the diaphragm
Intestinal obstruction
an acute abdominal emergency - contents of the intestine are unable to pass along e.g. strangulated hernia
Intussusception
the pushing of one part of the intestine into the lumen of another part immediately adjacent to it; common in children, and acute abdominal emergency
Malocclusion
badly aligned teeth when closing mouth
Malnutrition
deficiency in the quantity or quality of food
McBurney's point
area of the abdominal wall in the right iliac fossa where pain is felt when pressure is applied when testing for appendicitis
Melaena
black, tarry stools due to the presence of digested blood
Metaplasia
type of cells that have grown beyond the area where they are usually found
Occult blood
hidden blood, not visible to the naked eye (in stools)
Oesophagitis
inflammation of the gullet
Paralytic ileus
no bowel sounds heard with stethoscope indicating no movement (peristalsis)
Pilonidal sinus
an abnormality consisting of an infolding of skin containing hair over the coccygeal area which has formed a space (sinus) and can become infected
Plaque
tartar upon the teeth, causing caries etc
Proctalgia
pain in the rectum
Pyloric stenosis
narrowing of the pylorc sphincter of the stomach (muscle fibres fail to relax sufficiently to allow passage of food from the stomac into duodenum) causes projectile vomiting, common in first born male babies
Pyorrhoea
discharge of pus from the tooth cavity
Steatorrhoea
abnormal fatty stools
Strangulated hernia
an acute abdominal emargency in which a portion of the alimentary canal protrudes through the muscle and becomes constricted, losing it's blood supply - without intervention gangerene will occour
Ulcerative colitis
chronic inflammatory disease of the colon which causes diarrhoea, blood and mucus in the stools
Volvulus
twisting of intestine upon itself, causing obstruction